"...determination is the key to success in politics, in the broadest sense of the word. You don't need many resources to make your voice heard when you are defending a cause you believe to be just..." Padre André Sibomana

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Monday, October 11, 2010

On the Arrest of Callixte Mbarushimana

France finally arrested, Callixte Mbarushimana, one of the
leaders of the FDLR, a Hutu nationalist group active in eastern Congo. It was
reported that Mbarushimana will be handed over to the International Criminal Court
(ICC) in The Hague. This is a bold and appropriate move, especially when one
takes into account the incessant havoc that the FDLR has caused in the
region. However, will this arrest solve the FDLR cancerous problem?

Hard question that only time will answer. Nonetheless, many
agree that the arrests will be a strong statement against impunity in the
region. This could have a deterrent effect
on the many militias that continue to terrorize the region. War lords will now
know that justice awaits them, in the event that they orchestrate violence
against unarmed civilians.

It is necessary to say that the arrest of Mr. Mbarushimana
will be seen, by some, as the continuation of selective justice that has mainly
targeted Hutu individuals. As I noted in a previous post, criminal individuals belonging
to the Tutsi ethnic group remain untouchable. Two of the most recent ones, Bosco Ntaganda
and Laurent Nkunda are shielded by the small but influential Rwanda regime from the International
Criminal Court.

For justice to make any meaningful change, it ought to be
applied equally and without favoritism.

Finally, I believe that the FDLR is mostly a political
problem which emanates from the deeply fragmented ethnic tensions. If Rwanda
was to liberalize its internal politics, it is possible that the FDLR will lose
influence among the Hutu people. A democratic Rwanda, with guarantees for
political pluralism, would attract the support of a majority of Rwandans. And, to be honest, most people whether Tutsi
or Hutu are tired of the meaningless and atrocious violence that has characterized
the African Great Lakes region.

For normality to reign, considerable pressure needs to be
directed towards Rwanda’s despotic regime and, of course, the warring
factions.